Depth control wheel for seed planter

Abstract

An attachment (10) for use with an agricultural seeder implement is disclosed. The attachment (10) includes a pair of depth gauge wheels (28) which are aligned with respect to the direction of the intended movement (38) of the implement. The wheels (28) are generally parallel to a pair of furrow disks (12) which are aligned and have forward edges (32) thereof converging. The wheels (28) are disposed for horizontal movement forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the disks (12) in order to afford adjustment of lateral spacing (60, 62) between the disks (12) and wheels (28).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An attachment for use with an agricultural seeder implement having a pair of furrow disks substantially aligned with respect to a direction of intended movement of the implement and having forward edges converging to form an angle between the disks, said attachment comprising: (a) a pair of wheels substantially aligned with respect to the direction of intended movement of the implement and having forward edges converging to form an angle having an arcuate measure similar to the angle between the disks, each of said wheels having an inner face opposite one of the disks and an outer face directed outwardly;   (d) means for mounting said wheels as part of said attachment with said wheels straddling the disks, and for movement, independent of upward and downward movement, forwardly and rearwardly relative to the disks;   (c) a pair of struts, each having a first wheel attachment end by which one of said wheels is supported and a second opposite end, said struts straddling said pair of wheels with each passing adjacent said outer face of said wheel supported thereby;   (d) a carrying member having a pair of formed extrusions, each defining a generally vertically extending channel, through which channel one of said second ends of said struts slideably moves; and   (e) means for locking each of said second ends of said struts against movement within said respective channel with one of a number of selectable stations along said second end disposed within said channel.   
     
     
       2. An attachment in accordance with claim 1 wherein said extrusions are formed from aluminum. 
     
     
       3. A depth gauge attachment for use with a seeder having an elongated frame member extending longitudinally in a direction of intended movement of the seeder and a pair of furrow disks fixed with respect to, and extending below, the frame member, the disks being substantially longitudinally aligned with respect to the frame member and having forward edges converging to form an angle therebetween, comprising: (a) a pair of depth gauge wheels substantially longitudinally aligned with respect to the frame member and having forward edges converging to form an angle therebetween, said angle having an arcuate measure similar to the angle formed between the furrow disks, said wheels having outwardly directed faces;   (b) a pair of struts, each having a first wheel attachment end by which one of said wheels is supported and a second opposite end, said struts straddling said pair of wheels with each passing adjacent said outer surface of said wheel supported thereby;   (c) a carrying member having a pair of formed extrusions, each defining a generally vertically extending channel, through which channel one of said second ends of said struts slideably moves;   (d) means for locking each of said second ends of said struts against movement within said respective channel with one of a number of selectable stations along said second end disposed within said channel; and   (e) means for mounting said wheels to the frame member with the furrow disks disposed intermediate said wheels, and for movement, independent of vertical movement, forwardly and rearwardly along the frame member;   (f) whereby lateral spacing between a furrow disk and the depth gauge wheel generally parallel thereto increases as said wheels are moved forwardly along the frame member and decreases as said wheels are moved rearwardly along the frame member.   
     
     
       4. An attachment in accordance with claim 3 wherein said carrying member comprises a saddle mounted on said frame member for horizontal sliding therealong, and wherein said means for mounting said wheels to said frame member comprises said carrying member, said struts, and said means for locking each of said second ends of said struts against movement within said respective channel. 
     
     
       5. An attachment in accordance with claim 4 further comprising means for selectively maintaining said saddle at defined positions along said frame member.